Method of feeding tape



Nov. 17, 1931. w. B. LASHAR METHOD OF FEEDING TAPE Filed Jan. 6. 1930 Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER B. LASH'AR, OF FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TOAMERICAN FAIBItICS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT METHOD OF: FEEDING TAPE Application Med January 6, 1980. Serial No. 418,692.

My invention relates to an improved meth- 0d of feeding strips of fabricsuch as tape and is particularly adapted for feeding label due to the fact that the irregularities in the weave result in slight variations in the length of the markings and the spaces between them, and the feed of the label strip to the cutter of the machine mustbe varied to compensate for such variations. In other words, the length of the label markings as well as of the spaces between markings is determined by fixed numbers of weft threads and hence to insure the proper positioning of the label markings with respec'tt-o the cutter, the tape must be fed by steps measured not by fixed linear units but by weft units, otherwise the variations due to irregularities of weave might accumu-lateto' such an extent that the indlcated by the reference numeral 10. The

cutter'would intime be cutting through the markings instead of intermediate between successive markings.

It has been a practice, heretofore, to'form the label strip with a ribin each space between markings, this rib being formed in the strip while the strip isbeing woven. The strip is then fed into the cutting machine by means of reciprocating fingers which, en gage the ribs successively and push the label strip toward the cutter to definite successive positions with respect to the cutter. One of the objections to this system is the fact that the ribs necessarily project very slightly above thesurface of the tape and. as a. consequence, the fingers sometimes fail to engage a rib. The markings themselves are usually raised above the main body of the tape and, if the fingers fail to engage a rib, they will engage the next adjacent marking and push the label strip forward to such position that the cutter will cut through a marking rather than through the space between markings.

It is an object of my invention to provide animproved method of feeding the tape by which the tape is more positively engaged and its feed to desired position with respect to the cutier is assured: .In my co-pending application, Serial No. 418,006 filed January 2 1930, I disclose an improved label strip in which a loop is formed between each successive pair of markings audit is an object of the present invention to provide a method of feeding such a tape and means for carrying out the method.

Vith these. and other objectsin view which will appear hereinafter Ishall now describe ameans for carrying out myiniproved method of feeclingtape and will thereafter define the novelty and scope of my invention in the claims. 1 i

In the accompanying" drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a tapefeeding machine adapted to carry out my improved tape-feeding method,

Fig; Qis a view in cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and V y V Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 but showing parts. in a dilferent position.

In the drawings, the label strip of tape is 7 end upon a screw 18 threaded into a bracket 19 supported on the, table 14. A rodQO is pivotally secured .to the blade and provides 'n'zeans for operating the same. The operating rod 20 may be connected with a cam. by which the blade will be, operated at fixed time intervals. The means for operating the cutting blade forms no part of my invention and henceis. not shown in the drawings. a

To feed the tape to the cutter I provide a finger 21 which is arranged to move transversely and also parallel to the run of the tape. To this end the, finger is mountedto slide-in transverse guides 22 secured to a slide plate 23 and the latter slides longitudinally or parallel to the tape. The slide plate rests on the table 14 and is formed with flanges 24 on opposite sides thereof. One of the flanges slides in a recess formed between an undercut edge of the plate 13 and the table 14. The other flange is engaged by an overlapping guide member 26 secured to the table. The plate 23 is formed with depending ears 27 which project through a slot 28 formed in the table 14 and carry a pin 27. The pin is engaged by the forked end 29 of an arm 29 which is iournalled on a shaft 30. Intermediate its ends the arm 29 carries a roller 31 which engages a cam groove 32 formed in the face of a cam 33. The cam is fixed. to a drive sh aft 34. The shape of the cam groove 32 is such as to swing the arm 29 back and forth. thereby reciprocating the slide plate 23 and giving the finger 21 a movement parallel to the run of the tape.

Mounted on the fin er 21 is a roller 35 which is adapted to ride in a slot formed between a pair of depending flanges 36 and 37 on an arm 38. This arm projects through and has sliding engagement with a slot 39 formed in the table 14. the slot running transversely to the direction of movement of the slide plate 23. Rigidlv secured to the arm 38 below the table 14 is an arm 40 which at its forward end carries a roller 41. The roller 41 en ages a cam groove 42 cut in the peripherv of the cam 33.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the finger 21 in its forward transverse position engaging the loop 12. the cam 33 acting on the arm 29 will causet e plate 23 to be moved toward the right, as

viewed in the fi ure. feeding the tape toward the cutter 7. When the finger has reached the limit of this stroke a pro er length of the ta e will have been fed to the cutter. and the latter will then be operated to sever the strip cutting off a label. Either while the cutter is operating or thereafter. the cam 33 will retract the arm 38 disengaging the finger from the loop. as shown by full lines in Fig. 3. The cam will hold the arm 38 in such retracted position while'it returns the side plate 23 to the position shown in Fig. 1, after which the cam will cause the arm 38 to swing forward. sliding the finger 21 into engagement with the next succeeding loop on the tape. This completes a cycle of movement.

It will be observed that the finger 21 is wider than the length of the loops and has a pointed end so that it will be sure to enga e is moved into engagement with the loop. If, by reason of a local variation in the weave, the center of the loop lies behind the axis of the finger, the tape will be advanced by the taper of the point as the latter is moved transversely into engagement with the loop. On the other hand, if the loop is slightly advanced with respect to the axis of the finger, the tape will be drawn back by the finger as the pointed end is introduced into the loop. Thus engagement of the loop by the finger results in positioning the tape. Since the loop is woven into the fabric while the fabric is being formed on the loom, each loop bears a definite position with respect to the markings woven inthe tape, and consequently the feed of the tape is corrected at each cycle of the feed mechanism to compensate-for irregularities of weave.

I have described the label strip as a tape but by that term I mean to include any strip of fabric whether formed with. selvaged edges or not. 7

While I have described my invention as applied to a label cutting machine it will be obvious that the same method of feed could be employed for other purposes as well without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the following claims:

' I claim: v

1. In the method of feeding a tape formed with a longitudinally-disposed loop, the steps which comprise, transversely engaging the loop, and longitudinally moving the tape by meansof the loop to a fixed position.

v 2. In the method of feeding a tape formed with a longitudinaly-disposed loop, the steps which comprise, engaging the loop, longitudinally moving the tape, and positioning the tape'with respect to a fixed point. v

3. In the method of feeding a tape formed with a loop, the steps which comprise, en-

gaging the loop and simultaneously positioning the tape with respect to a fixed point, and moving the tape through a fixed distance with respect to said point.

4. In the method of feeding a tape formed with a loop, the steps which comprise, engaging the loop. positioning the tape by such engagement with respect to a fixed point,

and moving the tape through a fixed distance with respect to said point.

5. In the method of feeding a. tape formed with a loop, the steps which comprise engaging the loop, moving the tape by means of the loop to a fixed position, and disengaging the loop.

' 6. In the method of feeding a tape formed with spaced longitudinally-disposed loops, the steps which comprise, moving an engaging means transversely into engagement with a loop, moving the engaging means through a fixed distance, withdrawing the engaging means transversely to disengage the loop,

and returning the engaging means to a po sition to engage a succeeding loop.

7 In the method of feeding a tape formed with spaced longitudinally-disposed loops, the steps which comprise, moving an engaging means transversely into engagement with a loop and thereby positioning the tape with respect to a fixed point, moving the engaging means through a fixed distance to advance the tape longitudinally with respect to said point, withdrawing the engaging means from engagement with the loop and returning the engaging means to a position to engage a succeeding loop.

In testimony whereof; I have signed this specification.

WALTER B. LASHAR. 

